THE ALLI WworRkeE “Other union workers in the area told us we are lucky to have such a strong organization to back us.” VOL 68 NOW h4 Wood and Allied Norman Garcia Dave C. Haggard Harvey Arcand Norm Rivard Wilf McIntyre Joe da Costa Sonny Ghag David Tones APRIL Official Publication of the Industrial, 03 ema Workers of Canada EDITOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT FOURTH VICE-PRESIDENT FIFTH VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY-TREASURER EDITORIAL BOARD Harvey Arcand Joe da Costa Bob Matters FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT FOURTH VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT LOCAL 1-405 DIRECTORY OF IWA OFFICES IWA CANADA NATIONAL OFFICE 300-3920 Norland Avenue Burnaby, B.C. V5G 4K7 ‘TEL (604) 683-1117 FAX (604) 688-6416 or FAX (604) 683-1265 For E-mail links check www.iwa.ca IWA CANADA NATIONAL OFFICE EASTERN CANADA 2088 Weston Rd. Toronto, Ont. M9N 1X4 TEL (416) 247-8628 FAX (416) 247-5893 WESTERN LOCALS LOCAL 1-80 351 Brae Rd. Duncan, B.C. V9L 319 TEL (250) 746-6131 FAX (250) 746-1012 LOCAL 1-85 4904 Montrose St. Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 1M3 TEL (250) 724-0171 FAX (250) 724-2800 LOCAL 1-184 Il0 Third Ave., West Prince Albert, Sask. S6V 563 TEL (306) 764-4202 FAX (306) 763-4922 LOCAL 1-207 4262 - SIA Street Edmonton, Alta. T6E 5V2 TEL (780) 463-9070 FAX (780) 461-5020 LOCAL 2171 301- 841 Cliffe Ave. Courtenay, B.C. VN 28 TEL (250) 334-3329 FAX (250) 334-2662 LOCAL 2171 SUB-LOCAL 2859 Commercial Dr. Vancouver, B.C. VSN 4C7 TEL (604) 874-0274 FAX (604) 874-8137 LOCAL 324 P.O. Box 1886, 1416 Gordon Ave. The Pas, Man. R9A IL6 TEL (204) 623-3443 FAX (204) 623-5534 LOCAL 1-3567 202 - 9292 200th St. Langley, B.C. VIM 3A6 TEL (604) 513-1850 FAX (604) 513-1851 LOCAL 363 101, 391 - 4th St Courtenay, B.C. VSN IG8 TEL (250) 334-3834 FAX (250) 334-2333 LOCAL 1-405 20! - 105 South Sth Ave. Cranbrook, B.C. VIC 2MI TEL (250) 426-4871 FAX (250) 426-2528 LOCAL 1-417 181 Vernon Avenue Kamloops, B.C. V2B 117 TEL (250) 554-3167 FAX (250) 554-3499 LOCAL 1-423 2040 Rutland Rd., North Kelowna, B.C. VIX 426 ‘TEL (250) 491-1436 FAX (250) 491-1437 LOCAL 1-424 (777 - 3rd Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 367 TEL (250) 563-7771 FAX (250) 563-0274 LOCAL 1-425 124€ North 2nd Ave. Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 126 TEL (250) 398-8248 FAX (250) 398-6218 LOCAL 830 10 Bannerman Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R2W OW1 TEL (204) 586-1307 FAX (204) 586-8502 EASTERN LOCALS LOCAL 306 330 Pleasant St. Miramichi, N.B. E1V 1Y9 TEL (506) 624-9916 FAX (506) 622-1211 LOCAL 400 4975 Boulevard St. Charles Room A - 102 Pierrefonds, Que. HSH 3C7 Tel (514) 620-1756 FAX (514) 620-4393 LOCAL 500 405 - 10th Street, Hanover, Ont. N4N 1P7 TEL (519) 364-2229 FAX (519) 364-7064 LOCAL 700 2088 Weston Rd., Toronto, Ont. MSN 1X4 TEL (416) 248-6271 FAX (416) 247-5893 LOCAL 1000 PO. Box 879, Fort Coulongé, Que. JOX 1VO TEL (819) 683-2143 FAX (819) 683-5653 LOCAL 1000 SUB -LOCAL 658 Boulevard Cecile Hawkesbury, Ont. P6C 529 TEL (613) 636-0014 FAX (613) 636-0014 LOCAL 2693 Lakehead Labour Centre 929 Ft. William Rd., Room 6 Thunder Bay, Ont. P7B 3A6 TEL (807) 345-9041 FAX (807-345-5169 LOCAL 2995 20 Riverside Dr. Kapuskasing, Ont. PSN 1A3 TEL (705) 335-2289 FAX (705) 335-5428 We made it through a difficult strike Our nine-month strike ended in December when the IWA won a decision at the Ontario Labour Relations Board that says replacement workers can’t vote to decertify a union (see story page two). Why should they? They weren’t around when we brought the union in! I want to express our thanks to Local 700 and the national union for its unwavering support. On behalf of the workers, I’d like to give special thanks to organizer Fran Borsellino who helped keep us together during very tough times. She was only a phone call away any time we needed help. Other union members in our area told us we are lucky to have a strong organization to back us. When push comes to shove, the IWA doesn’t back down. I want to send a special thanks to all our friends in the St. Catherines and District Labour Council and the Ontario Federation of Labour. Your strong sense of solidarity with us, helped us in our struggle. It was a long time coming but we saw what we can do when we stick together. ROBIN BAZYLEWSKI Chief Steward, Anagram Premier ResCare, Local 700 St. Catherines, ON We hope to see ATV video widely viewed In early January a new video was released to create awareness on safety issues for those who ride their ATV and other recreation vehicles on active industrial routes like logging and mining roads. The whole issue has hit our community hard. Last year there where three terrible collisions on logging roads in our area, including a fatality. So with some SAFER funding and contributions from Weyerhaeuser and our local, our high school’s media class put together a 12-minute video which really talks to kids and adults alike on the issues affecting safe use of the roads. Our local and the SAFER council encourages all IWA members, espe- cially those living out in the boonies, to get their kids to watch this video. We're circulating it to all local unions and it’s been sent out to all Weyco operations. We've also sent it off to school districts in our province. We're asking for your help to get this video viewed as widely as possible. Thanks. GEORGE ROGERS Safety Director, IWA Canada Local 1-85 Port Alberni, BC We need a government that cares I'd like other IWA members in B.C. to know that this provincial government is about as helpful as a rocked chainsaw. Up on the northwest coast they let NWBC buy out Skeena Cellulose Inc. and we have had nothing but grief since. In fact, we don’t believe that the company even has the intention of operating its pulp mill in Prince Rupert and other mills, includ- ing one certified to our local union in Terrace. The company locked us out last year and welshed on a potential start-up agreement in mid-December. Instead of getting support from the Liberals, Skeena MLA Roger Harris has slagged us in the local press and Minister of Forests Mike de Jong won't even answer a letter sent by the IWA, BCGEU and CEP over concerns that this company isn’t living up to the Forest Act. Instead the Liberals have granted massive log export rights to the company without knowing ifit has the finances to operate in the future. : DARREL WONG President, IWA Canada Local 2171 Courtenay, BC SON, LET ME SHOW You Te YEAR We FIRST HAD TROUBLES WITH THE AMERICANS OVER THIS SOFTWOOD LUMBER Weyerhaeuser tries to block mill loan Things have gotten pretty incredible here in New Brunswick after our mill, Nelson Forest Products, burnt down in the summer of 2001. Since then we have fought to get the mill rebuilt and our IWA cer- tification put back into place. Local businessman Robbie Tozer now wants to build a $70 million laminated veneer lumber plant and has worked out a deal with the city which would see Miramichi own the land and mill for 5 years, while the company would make monthly payments at low interest rates and take the mill over. The city approved the loan on March 20, despite an injunction by Weyerhaeuser which was intended to see if the loan could be legally blocked. Meanwhile Weyerhaeuser, with an. OSB plant here, continues to pay inde pendent wood haulers $70 per cord versus the $145 they'd get when Nelson restarts. WAYNE BUTLER Executive Board Member, Local 306 Miramichi, NB Visit to Chile an education in itself I want to thank the IWA for the recent opportu- nity I had to visit Chile with fellow union members Bev Humphries and Rolando Quintul (see story page twelve). We met with the National Confederation of Forest Workers and had the priviledge of co-wniting a new course for Chilean trade union women. The visit was an education in itself. We learned how hard it is for workers there to make progress, to col- lective bargain, to form the organization of their choice, and to collect dues. The CTF has two full- time staff which are poorly paid and depends heavi- ly on volunteers. I’m happy that our national union is helping out in Chile and I hope more Canadian unions will do the same. BRENDA WAGG Executive Board Member, Local 2171 Vancouver, BC IWA women recognize the needs of others I was fortunate to participate in the most recent WA leadership course on organizing where 23 women from western Canada shared experiences and ideas on how to reach out to unorganized workers in our communities. As a group we learned a great deal about some of the knowledge and skills that organiz- ers do require. Of course, there will be no substitute for getting out there and getting some firsthand experience. IWA women recognize the needs of our sisters and brothers who do not yet share the benefits of unionization and we are accepting our responsib- lity to go out there and do something about it. LESLIE McNABB Executive Board Member, Local 363 Black Creek, BC Send us an e-mail (ngarcia@iwa.ca) or snail mail. Try to keep your letters to 75-100 words or less so we can fit more in. Tell us about what's happening in your part of the country. We reserve the right to edit for brevity or omit submissions. 4 | THE ALLIED WORKER APRIL 2003